1974 nova HEI distributor fitment issues?

3621 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Chevymann74, Aug 31, 2012

Chevymann74

Discussion Starter · Aug 30, 2012 (Edited)

Can anyone give me some info? I was talking with someone who owns a 73 nova which is pretty much the same as the 74 and he was telling me that the hei distributor wont fit that it has clearance issues and that I would "have to" either go to the older distributor style with the coil on the side or smash the firewall in!!! Has anyone had this problem? When I got my nova it had no motor and no trans so idk what I have to work with space wise yet and im close to dropping the engine in any info is helpful thanks!

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brickyardboy

· #2 · Aug 31, 2012

Chevymann74 said:
Can anyone give me some info? I was talking with someone who owns a 73 nova which is pretty much the same as the 74 and he was telling me that the hei distributor wont fit that it has clearance issues and that I would "have to" either go to the older distributor style with the coil on the side or smash the firewall in!!! Has anyone had this problem? When I got my nova it had no motor and no trans so idk what I have to work with space wise yet and im close to dropping the engine in any info is helpful thanks!

Places like Summit sells small body HEI distributors. You'll still have a remote coil, unlike the GM with coil in cap.

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Chevymann74

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 31, 2012

brickyardboy said:
Places like Summit sells small body HEI distributors. You'll still have a remote coil, unlike the GM with coil in cap.

so does that mean I will need one of those smaller units? I already have a nice msd distributor id like to use and I can't return it it's been too long since I got it thanks!

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mpv72

· #4 · Aug 31, 2012

Yeah, it was tight on my '72 but I "Massaged" the firewall with the engine out. Wish I had a pic of me standing on the dash with that sledge hammer. Then I had to smooth it out. Pertrinix, etc didn't exist back when I was doing this. I go with a small body HEI or a pertronics (Or similar) if I had to do it again.

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sevenzeronova

· #5 · Aug 31, 2012

It will fit,but its a tight fit. Subframe bushings in good shape?
Those make a difference in terms of free space. Worn ones make the front clip sag. New ones straighten it or level it out.

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taz3

· #6 · Aug 31, 2012

^^X2 on that info. I have a 69 with a fair bit of room at the firewall, and it's the same as the 73, 74 model at the firewall. It wouldn't fit prior to new bushings, plus you can sneak the subframe ahead a touch too.:yes:

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cdahl383

· #7 · Aug 31, 2012

Nothing a hammer wont fix!

I had the same issue, HEI wouldn't fit too well. Beat on the firewall a little with a hammer, then smoothed it out a little, slapped some paint on it, and fit the HEI distributor in there no problem. Mine's a 72.

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Chevymann74

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 31, 2012 (Edited)

sevenzeronova said:
It will fit,but its a tight fit. Subframe bushings in good shape?
Those make a difference in terms of free space. Worn ones make the front clip sag. New ones straighten it or level it out.

Im going to replace the old worn ones with some sold aluminum ones I found in a catalog so it should be ok with the hei then huh thanks guys

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1974 nova HEI distributor fitment issues?

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